Thibault is a net loss

Goalie faces hip surgery, out at least 2 months

November 15, 2003|By Bob Foltman, Tribune staff reporter.

Blackhawks general manager Bob Pulford said Friday that he expects All-Star goaltender Jocelyn Thibault to be out "a minimum of two months" after he undergoes arthroscopic hip surgery Saturday in Pittsburgh.

The extent of the torn cartilage damage to Thibault's right hip won't be known until after Dr. Mark Philippon performs the arthroscopic surgery on him.

The surgery is being done to determine the exact nature of the injury and how much time Thibault will be sidelined.

Thibault injured his hip last Saturday at practice, but he's not sure how. He started feeling pain later in the afternoon and barely could walk Sunday. He dressed as Michael Leighton's backup Sunday night--he wasn't scheduled to play against Colorado even before the injury--but did not make the trip to Detroit for Monday's game.

Thibault was hoping he would be able to rest the hip for a couple of days. His hips have bothered him in the past, "but nothing to keep me from playing," he said earlier in the week.

Thibault already has missed four games because of the injury, and two months would mean 28 more. His problem is the latest in a string of injuries to players the Hawks counted on to carry their young players.

Eric Daze and Alex Zhamnov both are rehabbing from back surgery. The Hawks have fared reasonably well with those two out, but a lengthy absence of Thibault might be difficult to overcome.

Uncertainty in such an important position can create a lack of confidence throughout the team.

The injury comes at a tenuous time for the Hawks, who were flying high a week ago but have lost four straight games, including Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to Detroit.

At least until they know exactly how long Thibault will be out, the Hawks will go with rookie goalies Michael Leighton and Craig Anderson.

"We'll see how the two kids go," Pulford said. "It's a chance to see them play and see how they do. Everybody's said they're good, bright kids, and we'll see."

For now, Sutter said he has confidence in both, saying they each have shown "a tremendous amount of character."

Anderson made his first start of the season Friday at the United Center against the Detroit Red Wings after Leighton had played three straight games. Leighton--along with the rest of the Hawks--struggled Wednesday in a 6-2 loss to the Calgary Flames.

Thibault, in the final year of his contract, had been having a solid season up to this point with a 5-3-2 record, 2.27 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. His save percentage ranks seventh in the league.

Last season he made his first All-Star appearance but missed the final nine games of the season with postconcussion syndrome.

Despite that, Thibault played 62 games, his fifth season of playing more than 60 games. He even played four games after originally suffering the concussion last season, posting a shutout in a game in which he may have suffered a second concussion.

"We have to keep staying positive," winger Steve Sullivan said. "It's not easy. We're hoping we can get the ship going in the right direction and when [Daze, Zhamnov and Thibault] come back, we'll be a better team for it."